Orbit: thyroid eye disease: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Orbit: thyroid eye disease

Sample item

A woman with Graves disease has lid retraction, proptosis and lid lag on downgaze. What is the commonest cause of unilateral or bilateral proptosis in adults?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Thyroid eye disease

Thyroid eye disease is the commonest cause of proptosis in adults and is due to autoimmune inflammation of orbital fat and muscles. Lid lag is von Graefe sign and lid retraction is Dalrymple sign.

Option by option

  • A. Thyroid eye disease (correct)

    Correct. It is the leading cause in adults.

  • B. Orbital cellulitis

    Orbital cellulitis presents acutely with fever.

  • C. Dermoid cyst

    Dermoid cysts are congenital and usually small.

  • D. Rhabdomyosarcoma

    Rhabdomyosarcoma is a childhood tumour.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is A, Thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease is the commonest cause of proptosis in adults and is due to autoimmune inflammation of orbital fat and muscles.

Why is "Orbital cellulitis" not the answer?

Orbital cellulitis presents acutely with fever.

Why is "Dermoid cyst" not the answer?

Dermoid cysts are congenital and usually small.

Why is "Rhabdomyosarcoma" not the answer?

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a childhood tumour.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Orbit: thyroid eye disease in Ophthalmology. Lid lag is von Graefe sign and lid retraction is Dalrymple sign.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Orbit: thyroid eye disease?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.